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G2S Project Code: 2022-AK-91724
State: Alaska
Fiscal Year: 2022
Grantee
Sitka Public Library

Project Director
Director Name: Jessica Ieremia
Director Phone: 907-747-4021
Director Email: jessica.ieremia@cityofsitka.org
General Information
Title: Action Plan for Alaska Boarding School History
State Project Code: ILC23-020
Start Date: 10/01/2022
End Date: 09/30/2023
Abstract: The intent of this grant project was to create a resource document to share the history of Alaska Native Boarding Schools. We hired a remote research assistant to support the creation of a search term resource document to assist archives, libraries, and museums in locating recources related to Alsaka Native Boarding Schools.
State Goal: Goal 2. Various Formats
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$3,150.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,150.00
Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Community Concerns
History
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Alaska Native Boarding School Finding Aid
Narrative: A finding aid was created to assist users in searching for information regarding Alaska Native boarding schools in Alaska. Several museums, archives, libraries, and churches helped with gathering and consolidating the information.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Combined physical & digital


Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 1
Number of plans/frameworks: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
Suburban
Rural
For what age groups: 18-25 years
26-49 years
50-59 years
60-69 years
70+ years
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Indian
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: Yes
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 2
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
A finding aid was produced that helped with searches relating to boarding schools. Those who helped with the project were museums/archives, libraries, and churches. Museums/archives, including religious archives, were both supportive of the project and many helped directly. Libraries were consistently supportive and sometimes knowledgeable about the boarding school situation, many gave appropriate information for the project, however, none of them reported keeping original materials, which may be due to a lack of organization or knowledge. Perhaps more funding or training is necessary to organize these spaces. Many new responses, most of them being museums and archives, reported having information. Overall, the project successfully compiled information on Alaska Native Boarding schools, which will be of use in the creation of a digital archive which will serve as a tool for the target audience, those interested in learning about these boarding schools and their legacy.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
An unexpected benefit was the discovery of many already existing archives containing boarding school materials, such as National Center for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), which could be used as a model and were compiled. A possible problem is that there is no single descriptive use of terminology used to arrange records pertaining to native boarding school. Records tend to be under-described. National Archives (NARA) is currently working on this as a part of a broader initiative, and so any changes they make should be observed, and further contact with them may be necessary. Finally, most organizations that filled out the survey had materials, whereas most contacted organizations reported not having anything if there was a reply. An easier and more apparent way to respond in the negative may be useful in future surveys, in order to keep track of those who do not wish to report materials in their collection.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
While the creation of a finding aid and further outreach may have been helpful, there were some problems. Some contacts reported they lacked funding or staff to do a search. Some reported they did not know whether they had materials or not. And some organizations did not reply and may be more active at different times of the year
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeThis project helped determine the location of many held boarding school materials which were previously unorganized. This general search will ideally provide the foundation for an online search tool which will greatly improve research in this area.
Project Tags: